When a rookie or second-year player looks at a veteran, he should strive to conduct himself in a similar manner when he reaches that stage in his career.

When the younger guys on the New York Jets look at defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, they’re taking a look at exactly how not to act when they become veterans.

Wilkerson’s lateness to team meetings has become commonplace, as he has been disciplined for his tardiness the past three seasons. On each occasion, Wilkerson was benched for the first quarter of the next game — against the New York Giants in 2015, the Miami Dolphins in 2016 and most recently, the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

According to NJ.com, Wilkerson has been showing up late to morning meetings on a regular basis. In some cases, he has not shown up at all.

Still, coach Todd Bowles considers him a leader.

“The biggest thing is we are a family here,” Bowles said Monday. “At the end of the day, you love them up. You may be pissed for a minute, but you get over it and move on.”

Bowles needs to wake up and realize that things aren’t going to change with Wilkerson. He’s a repeat offender, and if he hasn’t gotten the message by now, he probably never will.

How can a player who can’t hold himself accountable for his own actions be considered a leader and a mentor to the younger players on the team?

After repeated benchings, it’s clear that Wilkerson is not in a rush to change his ways — apparently, he’s never in a rush. Either he is showing up whenever he feels like it, or he doesn’t know how to work an alarm clock. Either way, he’s setting a poor example and an even worse one when he doesn’t take responsibility for his actions.

Is this the guy that the Jets want influencing those who are a part of their youth movement? Wilkerson gets paid like a superstar, but he treats team meetings like a high schooler treats first period. Never mind that he’s not performing up to his contract statistically.

Bowles and the Jets need to stop recognizing Wilkerson as a leader. In fact, they should be evaluating whether he’s worth keeping on the roster in 2018. According to the New York Daily News, there’s a fat chance of that happening as Wilkerson continues to anger Gang Green’s decision makers.

Cutting Wilkerson in the offseason would not only free up some cap space for the Jets, but they would be ridding themselves of a player who thinks the rules don’t apply to him.

The disappointing, overpaid star is always late, but it looks like his Jets tenure will come to an early end.

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